Page 34 - BusinessWest February 19, 2024

“About 500 students have graduated
from Tech Foundry. And many of them are earning significant salaries, way more than they evercould”have imagined.
The messaging on the Paragus walls isn’t just decorative; Delcie Bean says it’s critical for the company to promote its values and culture in order to attract new talent and grow.
changed so much in the past 10 years, but the core principle is that you need somebody looking after your network and being proactive and taking care of it.”
The third pillar is strategy, helping businesses figure out what technology they should be using, and how to use it more efficiently.
But about four years ago, a fourth pillar emerged at Paragus, which is AI and automation. “That’s all about using technology to make the business more efficient, more intelligent. How do we access more information to run a better business?”
As technology continues to evolve, especially on that fourth
front, it’s critical that businesses have a strategic partner well- versed in IT and current trends, he added.
“AI and automation are changing everything. They’re going to have a huge disruption in the labor force in terms of who’s doing what jobs and how those jobs get done. And we’re going to be able to do things that, right now, we can’t do, either because we’re too busy doing the mundane, repetitive work, or because we just didn’t have the tools to be able to work on those things.
“So, how do we stay one or two steps ahead of our customer base,” Bean asked, “but in a way that we can figure out not only how this is impacting our industry, but how it’s impacting small business in general? Then, how can we be the sherpas, the guides, for those small businesses and tell them what’s coming around the corner, what they should be thinking about, and what they should be preparing for?”
Sensing a need for a stronger pipeline of talent into the
IT field, in 2014, Bean created Tech Foundry, an educational nonprofit that provides in-depth training for promising individuals, particularly from marginalized or underrepresented
backgrounds.
“We wanted to create a program that would take people
who are having a hard time finding work, give them a career path, and then we can employ them,” he explained. “It helps us, it helps them, it helps everybody. It seemed very sustainable.”
Employer partners agreed, and a fundraising campaign brought in $400,000 to launch the program, which continues
today — and recently expanded into Tech Hub, a facility in Holyoke where people can learn technology skills to help them advance in an increasingly digital job market.
“About 500 students have graduated from Tech Foundry. And many of them are earning significant salaries, way more than they ever could have imagined,” Bean said. “So it not only impacts that person,
it impacts their entire
family, because now
you’ve just changed this
Bean >> Continued on page A40
1350 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 413-781-8000 | NAIPlotkin.com
Commercial Real Estate Services, Worldwide
Congratulations to the 2024 Difference Makers!
Matt Bannister
Senior Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Responsibility, PeoplesBank
Delcie Bean
CEO, Paragus Strategic I.T.
Linda Dunlavy
Executive Director, Franklin Regional Council of Governments
The Staff of Rock 102
Dr. Fred and Mary Kay Kadushin
Co-founders, Feed the Kids
Scott Keiter
CEO, Keiter
Springfield Symphony Orchestra and Springfield Chamber Players
Shannon Rudder
President and CEO, Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services
Property Management | Brokerage Services | Construction Services
82-84 North Street Northampton, MA 413-584-0310 www.dasullivan.com
General Contractor | Construction Manager | Owner’s Project Manager
BUILDING HISTORY SINCE 1897
Greenfield Public Library| Greenfield, MA Photography by CHODOS, Inc.
Why Choose DAS?
INTEGRITY in everything we do QUALITY in everything we build RESPECT for everyone, on every level
The legacy of D.A. Sullivan & Sons, Inc. is built on core values that drive us forward. With over 126 years in business, we pride ourselves on delivering personalized attention and expert project management. Our commitment to integrity, quality and respect adds unparalleled value to every project.
A14 2024
BusinessWest